Jenkins thinks Brees’ absence will help defense learn new system

Optimists see half-empty glasses as half full. Eternal optimists see fully-empty glasses as an opportunity to fill the glass.

And that’s the attitude that Saints defensive back Malcolm Jenkins brings to Brees-free OTAs in New Orleans.

Barring a loaves-and-fleur-de-lis miracle, quarterback Drew Brees won’t be present for the launch of the practice portion of the Saints’ offseason program on Tuesday. And Jenkins actually has found the whisper of a silver lining in the dark clouds that continue to dump rain and other more objectionable substances on the franchise.

The team is learning a new defense, under coordinator Steve Spagnuolo. Jenkins believes it will be easier to learn the defense without Brees there picking it apart at will.

“It becomes a lot more relaxed when you don’t have Drew out there making the plays that he does,” Jenkins told Ryan Jones of the New Orleans Times-Picayune. “We’ll be able to learn quickly what we can and can’t do in that defense.”

And when it comes to the new defense, a lot of learning will be needed.

“It’s totally different,” safety Roman Harper told Jones. “There are a lot more eyes on the ball, not as much [man-to-man defense], and [we’re] just trying to make plays on the ball. I’m looking forward to it. We’re still going to pressure. We’re still going to get after the quarterback like we did. The more we’ll get to work with it, the more comfortable we’ll be with it.”

They’ll get to work with it plenty. And they’ll get to figure it out while trying to confound Chase Daniel, who’ll be running the offense in Brees’ absence.

Facing Brees in practice the last few years hasn’t exactly given the defense an edge. To the other poster, if you think the fans here aren’t expecting anything less than a 12-win season you don’t know us very well at all.

What the hell, usually the haters are here two-fold on all things Saints. Loser fan bases can’t get enough of the bada$$ Saints, and that’s just the way we like it. God, are we gonna manhandle some teams this season. The carnage is coming NFL, hide your children and your women, the Saints are taking no prisoners this season. They will destroy careers for the love of the game, just good old fashioned football. We’re coming to get ya!!

Translation: Roman Harper’s terrible cover skills are abundantly clear in this new defense so he has to as quickly as possible point out how “great” of a pass rusher he is. He’s by far my least favorite player on the team.

It’s OTAs for God sakes. All they wear is helmets. Drew wont be missed . Receivers learn routes. Defense needs to know where to go to the ball. Über competitive Brees actually hurts his own defense learning a system. Once they get it down, then he can work them over in training camp.

When it comes to the Saints, there is absolutely no rational thinking – either by the Saints fans, or the bashers.
Goodell has indeed succeeded in making a spectacle of the whole situation.
Not a Saints fan – but the bagging on the Saints needs to stop.
Let it all play out on the field.

@ schmitty That’s because our starter at that position was out hurt ,and they took advantage of that we had someone playing that day with little experience. when we have our whole offensive line intact no one can get to Drew we have the best offensive line in football do your research before you make your comments like that buddy.

@ schmitty That’s because our starter at that position was out hurt ,and they took advantage of that we had someone playing that day with little experience. when we have our whole offensive line intact no one can get to Drew we have the best offensive line in football do your research before you make your comments like that buddy.

So because ONE out of FIVE lineman was out thats your excuse? Brees was getting blitzed from all angles. How about you do me a favor..do your research and watch a replay of the game and report back to me